Patent Application
20110088366
The present invention relates to raking or sweeping implements and more particularly to rotary rakes for raking yards and trails.
In order to maintain a grass lawn or a trail in good condition, it is often desirable to regularly remove from the area obstructing materials such as moss, leaves, loose grass, acorns, etc. Removal of such materials has traditionally been carried out manually using a hand-operated lawn rake of the kind well known in the art comprising a hand-held elongate shaft which carries a rake-head at one end. The head generally includes a plurality of elongate tines which are typically splayed outwardly with respect to one another from the end of the shaft. The use of a traditional hand rake, however, is very time-consuming and may not be practical for use on larger areas.
There are also rakes for agricultural and commercial applications that are designed to be pulled by tractors. However, such rakes are large and expensive and may be unsuitable for smaller scale applications such as lawns and trails. Such rakes often also require a separate power source from the tractor and therefore greatly increase the cost of the raking operation.
The present invention provides an improved raking or sweeping implement such as a yard a trail rake that is configured to be pulled by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), lawn mower, or the like. The rake enables an area such as a yard or trail to be raked or swept in a much more time-effective manner than traditional hand rakes and provides a much simpler and cost-effective solution than agricultural rakes. A rotary portion of the rake having a plurality of raking tines is driven by the rotation of one of the rake's tires as it is being pulled, so no separate power source is required for operating the rake. The rotary portion can be angled with respect to the direction of travel of the rake so that piles of grass, leaves, etc. are swept to a side of the rake.
The present invention provides an improved raking or sweeping implement such as a yard and trail rake that is configured to be pulled by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), lawn mower, or the like. The rake can include a frame portion connected to a rotary portion. The frame portion can include an attachment mechanism for attachment to a pulling mechanism, such as an ATV. The rotary portion can include a drive shaft, a plurality of rotary shafts with raking tines, and a planetary gear system for driving the rotary shafts as the rotary portion is rotated. The rotary portion can be rotated by engaging a tire of the frame portion with a drive mechanism connected to drive shaft such that rotation of the tire caused by pulling the rake causes the rotary portion to rotate. As the rotary portion rotates, the planetary gear system causes the raking tines to rotate forwardly, raking up debris. The rake can also be adapted to include sweeping elements such as brooms in place of raking tines to allow hard surfaces to be swept with the rake.
The present disclosure will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Referring to
The frame portion 102 of rake 100 includes a pair of curved support members 104 connected to each other by one or more cross members 106. Support members 104 connect to a front wheel or tire 108 at a forward portion of frame 102. An attachment mechanism 110, such as pull tube 110, also connects to support members 104 at a forward portion of frame 102. Pull tube 110 can be used to attach rake 100 to a pulling mechanism, such as, for example, an ATV to provide for translational movement of rake 100. At a rear portion of frame 102, support members 106 connect to a weight tray 112. A wheel or tire 114 can be positioned on each side of weight tray 112.
Rotary portion 104 includes a pair of hubs 116, 118 connected by a cross bar 120. A central drive shaft 122 extends between hubs 116, 118 and can be surrounded by a plurality of rotary shafts 124. In one embodiment, rotary portion 104 includes four rotary shafts 124 evenly distributed around drive shaft 122. Rotary shafts 124 include a plurality of raking tines 126 and can also be adapted to include sweeping elements such as brooms.
Rotary portion 104 can include a planetary gear system 128 on hub 116 for rotating rotary shafts 124. Planetary gear system 128 includes a drive gear 130 attached to drive shaft 122. A lock bar 132 can also be connected to drive shaft 122 to secure drive shaft 122 and ensure proper rotation of rotary portion 104. Drive gear 130 meshes with a plurality of secondary gears 134 connected to hub 116. Secondary gears 134 mesh with a plurality of rotary shaft gears 136 connected to rotary shafts 124. Thus, if the drive gear 130 is rotated clockwise as indicated, the secondary gears rotate in the reverse direction, causing the rotary shaft gears 136 and rotary shafts 124 to also rotate clockwise. This allows the tines 126 to sweep forwardly in relation to the rotation of the rotary portion 104. The gear size and/or positioning of planetary gear system 128 can be adjustable to allow an operator to adjust the sweep angle of the tines 126. In one embodiment, the tines 126 are always pointing straight down as they contact the ground.
Rotary portion 104 can be adjustably connected to frame portion 102. In one embodiment, rotary portion 104 is connected to frame portion 102 via a pair of shafts 138 extending upwardly from rotary portion 104. Shafts 138 can be removably inserted into locking collars 140 on frame portion and affixed together by locking mechanisms 141. Locking mechanisms 141 can comprise any means for engaging shafts 138 within locking collars 140. In one embodiment, locking mechanisms 141 include a knob that is tightened to engage shafts 138 within locking collars 140. This enables frame portion 102 and rotary portion 104 to be removably attached to one another and enables adjustment of the height of rotary portion 104 relative to the ground or other surface to be raked or swept.
To provide for rotation of rotary portion 104 as rake 100 is pulled, one of tires 114 can be brought into engagement with a drive mechanism 142 such as drive wheel 142 affixed to rotary portion 104 at drive shaft 122 adjacent hub 118 as can be seen most clearly in
In operation, a user connects the rake 100 to an ATV or other means for pulling rake 100 via pull tube 110. The height of rotary portion 104 relative to the ground or other surface can be set via adjustment of locking mechanisms 141. The desired height of rotary portion may be determined by the type of operation that is going to be performed with rake. For example, a higher position may be desirable for raking leaves than for heavy thatching. Weight tray 112 may then be used to coordinate the height of tires 114 with the height of drive wheel 142 on rotary portion 104. As the rotary portion 104 is lowered for various operations, it may be necessary to hold tires 114 more firmly towards the ground to ensure proper engagement of tire 114 with drive wheel 142. This can be done by adding weight to weight tray 112. Weight tray 112 can accommodate any known means for providing added weight, such as, for example, sandbags, concrete blocks, or rocks.
Tire 114 can then be engaged with drive wheel 142. This can be done by swiveling frame portion 102 until tire 114 comes into contact with drive wheel 142. Tire 114 and drive wheel 142 are then locked together with engagement means 144. As rake 100 is pulled forwardly, tines 126 are brought forwardly in a sweeping motion to rake debris. As can be seen in the Figures, when drive wheel 142 is engaged with tire 114, rotary portion 104 can be aligned at an angle with frame portion 102. In operation, tires 114 will be aligned with the direction of travel of the pulling mechanism that is pulling the rake 100 via pull tube 110. Thus, rotary portion 104 will be aligned at an angle to the direction of travel of the pulling mechanism and the rake 100. This allows grass, leaves, and other debris to be swept into a pile alongside the rake 100 and pulling mechanism.
In other embodiments, various other mechanisms can be substituted for raking tines 126. Rake 100 can be used for any application that can benefit from a raking or sweeping type motion as described. For example, rotary portion can be configured to include brooms or broom-like elements to allow for sweeping of flat surfaces such as driveways and parking lots.
In one embodiment, rake 100 can be comprised primarily of steel 100. In such an embodiment, the various components of rake 100 can be welded together.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/252,237, filed Oct. 16, 2009, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61252237 | Oct 2009 | US |
